Visitors

Jan 25...It was a day for visitors.  The morning started out with a visit from an unknown cat.  He/she just wandered on into the house and began to investigate.  It was a beautiful animal, and very skittish but I had a short space of time to snap a couple of shots.

Images taken with my Sigma 24-70 DG EX

 

F2.8, 1/500s, 70mm, ISO 100.

 

My friend Mystic and I were expecting friends in the afternoon and when they arrived we headed down to Mt Huxley and the Bird River.  These beautiful places are south of Queenstown, the Bird River is inside the World Heritage Area.  

At one part of the river a branch of a tree crosses from one side to the other.  I snapped a few shots of it from different angles to see which one would be better.

 

F8, 1/6s, 32mm, ISO 100.

 

F8, 1/6s, 24mm, ISO 100.

F8, 1/6s, 24mm, ISO 100.

I think my favourite would be the third one.  I like the rocky foreground and how it directs the eye further into the image.  I also like the way the branches bend over the top, in all three, making a triangle shape.

Contrasts

Jan 24...This tree has grabbed my attention every time I wandered past it and I have tried a number of different angles but still haven't got the shot I wanted.  I like the contrast of the colour and the textures.

Images taken with my Sigma 24-70 DG EX

F9.6, 1/15s, 70mm, ISO 100

Again with this next shot the colour contrast, lines and textures drew my attention.  I particularly liked the bright pink of the flower.

F9.5, 1/125s, 70mm, ISO 100 

Busy, but catching up slowly

I've had a busy few days and haven't had a chance to post my shots of the day...actually I'm still processing images from a couple of days ago.  I'll post them as soon as I have finished.

What a way to Start the Day!

Jan 23...Ok...maybe not the most spectacular sunrise, but I think subtle sunrises are much more pleasant to observe.  It's not often I see the sunrise so I had to catch this one.

Image taken with my Sigma 24-70 DG EX

F8, 1/8s, 24 mm, ISO 100.

There was a fog starting to roll through the valley and it settled like a blanket across the town.  But it didn't last too long because the day really started to warm up.

Image taken with Pentax M 1:3.5 135mm Prime

 

F8, 1/8s, 135 mm, ISO100.

 I really like this shot.  The way the fog is hanging just above the house, the colours, the house itself.  For me this is a very peaceful image.

Up Close

Jan 22...It was a really nice day, warm and dry, sun shining down.  I wasn't really sure what I wanted to shoot, but I'm like that most days, so whatever catches my eye I will attempt to shoot.  I tried capturing many things from bees to birds, mountains, people...the attached shots would probably be my favourites though.  Both shots taken with a Pentax K20D and Sigma 24-70 DG EX.

F8, 1/180s, 70mm, ISO 100.

I just had to play with this first shot, something about it said duo tone...not sure though if it has really worked.  I do like the colours of the original, but wanted something a bit different from the image.

F8, 1/500s, 70mm, ISO 100.

I was lucky to get this second shot.  The wind was blowing, and the bee was flying around the flower, not settling for too long.  I think I need to reduce the colours of the background a bit to bring the bee and flower in to more focus, making it the main subject.  The colours of the background seem to overwhelm.

Bit Rushed

Jan 21...Sometimes it feels like things are piling up around me and I get rushed and don't seem to have enough time to get things done and they don't appear to be done to the best of my ability.  At these times I like to get out and about and try to refocus my energy so I can do what has to be done in a more proficient manner.  This day was one of those days...

Shots taken with a Pentax K20D and Sigma 24-70 DG EX

 

 

 

I'll add the settings a bit later...seemed to be rushed again.

Disappointment...

Jan 20...It was one of those days where I just didn't seem to like any of the shots I took, but here's a couple that I did take.